Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-08-16
DIVISION OF THE STATE.

DIVISION OF THE STATE.
A distinguished journalist and eminent
citizen of the State is reported to have ex-
pressed himself at Los Angeles the other
day to the effect that presently California
will be divided, and Southern California
will be set apart as distinct State. He is
said to have based his conclusion upon the
difference in methods of agriculture, pro-
ducts, people, etc. That gentleman is a
far-seeing man, and not given to incau-
tious forecasting. Nevertheless, while re-
specting his judgment highly, we cannot
admit the soundness of his conclusions in
this case.
When the time shall arrive in which
Southern California will feel warranted in
pressing its claims for division to vote, it
Will find that even such seeming differ
ences between the sections as now
appear, will have disappeared. There
is remarkably heavy influx of
Eastern people into Southern California.
that certainly does give to the personality
OF that section an appearance somewhat
different from that of the northern parts.
The Eastern man when unripe," accord
ing to California standards, is in strong
contrast to the Californian of some wears
residence. But it does not take the East
ern immigrant long to mellow to the Cali
fornia system and to assimilate with it, to
shake off his exclusiyeness and adapt HIM
self to our broad ideas of economy. This
element is now pouring into the north and
central sections. and in short time
the State will be peopled alike from one
end to the other, so far as newcomers are
concerned.
Climatic reasons for division do not, We
think cut any large figure in the question.
If they did the extreme north might iusti-
fiably clamor for separation from the CEN
trail part, and with far more reason the
great valleys might demand to be made
independent of the coast upon the one hand
and of the mountains on the other. The
diversity of climate indeed, is not greater
north of the Los Angeles section than
there, or south of that point But in fact.
there Is not, as meteorological observations
prove, very much difference between the
climates of the south and the north. The
temperature is on the whole about the
same, the seasons of rain and its absence
the same; the humidity of the atmos
phere not greatly different when valleys
are compared with valleys and coast slopes
with coast slopes.
Nor is there such great difference in
products as is assumed What will grow
IN one section will grow in the other,
though one fruit may be more prolific in
the south and another in the north. In
fact, when close examination is made of
the statistics of wealth, production and
meteorology, the supposed broad contrasts
between the north and the south in Cali
fornia nearly disappear There are, and we
believe Will be for many years to come, ifnot
for all time, strong political and CONNER
clal reasons against any dismemberment of
California. The State is large it is true.
but that 1t stretches out longitudinally
along such an extended line of coast is not
an arbitrary reason for division. Increas
fng means of transportation for goods and
persons are rapidly eliminating the factors
Of distance between markets, remoteness
from the political seat, etc Economic
State Government does not advise burden
ing the people with the support of two
State systems who now maintain but one.
New States carved out of Territories will
enlarge the Senate as much as the people
deem compatible with their best interests,
Take the State as it is, it could scarcely
be planned geographically to better adj
vantage as symmetrical territory than
now, unless we except that portion living
upon the eastern slope of the Sierras, and
to which Nevada has with considerable
force of reason laid claim What South
ern California would gain by being erected
into a separate State we fail TO see, except
that 1T would be nearer to the seat of Gov
ernment. Its commercial relations with
the metropolis of the coast would not be
better; its taxation would not be de-
creased; its climate and productive ca
Pacity would not be affected by the polit-
ical change; its people would neither be
made happier nor more prosperous; its
homes would not be for that reason made
more numerous or paradisical. 1t would
gain simply and only increase of taxation
aud Of political turmoil